A Complete Guide to the French Passport Talent Visa – “Salarié en Mission”

International companies routinely send employees on ‘assignments’ to their offices or branches in other countries, including in France. Doing so allows them to spread their resources and ensure that expertise and experience within the organisation can facilitate projects in each of the geographies in which they operate. Such projects might involve, for example, a member of staff from another country spending a year in France setting up a new branch office, overseeing the implementation of a new IT system, providing training on new technology, collaborating with specialists in France on a new product, or helping staff in France to implement new factory production lines. As such, there are many reasons why a multinational organisation may wish to temporarily relocate key staff members to France. Thankfully, the French government understands the importance of facilitating modern mobile workforces, and provide an immigration visa for this purpose; the Salarié en Mission visa under the Passport Talent scheme. In this article, we will explain how the Passport Talent Salarié en Mission works, who is eligible, and how to apply.

What is the Passport Talent Scheme?

The “Passport Talent”, or “talent passport” in English, is a multi-year residence permit which enables foreign and self-employed people from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) to reside and work in France, hence helping to further the country’s economic attractiveness. Holders can potentially stay for a maximum of four years. The permit also allows immediate family members to join the main permit holder in France, including spouses and dependant children under the age of 18.

What is the Salarié en Mission Category of the Passport Talent?

“Salarié en mission” translates to “employee on mission”. This variant of the Passport Talent programme allows a multinational business to relocate a member of staff from outside of the EEA to France to undertake a specific project in the country. The duration of the Salarié en Mission permit is set to a maximum of four years.

Am I Eligible to Apply for the Salarié en Mission Passport Talent Permit?

The eligibility requirements for the salarié en mission Passport Talent are relatively straightforward. You will be able to obtain a permit if you meet the following criteria:

• You must be an employee of a company established abroad with the intention of temporarily relocating to France to carry out paid work for the same organisation in France.
• You must have been with your employer for at least three months before you apply for a Salarié en Mission permit.
• You must have an employment contract with the company that employs you in France
• Your pay must meet the minimum gross salary threshold – this is currently set at €33,251.40
• You must intend to spend no more than four years in France working for your employer.

How do I Apply for a Salarié en Mission Passport Talent Permit?

If you know that your stay in France will be no longer than one year, you can apply for a VL-TS from the French consulate in your country of residence. The VL-TS is a combined visa and permit (in this case, the permit will need to state the words “salarié en mission”).

If you know you will need a permit for more than one year, you will need to submit an application for a long-term visa and a talent passport permit to the French consular authorities in your country of residence. When you arrive in France, you can then collect your residence card from your prefecture or sub-prefecture office where you are living, by showing your visa. The application form for a Salarié en Mission Passport Talent permit can be found online.

In addition to supplying the completed application form (Cerfa form n ° 15616 * 01), you will also need to supply the following documents:

• Your long-stay visa
• Your passport (pages relating to civil status, validity dates and entry stamps)
• One extract of your birth certificate with filiation or one full copy of your birth certificate
• If you are married: marriage certificate (full copy or extract with filiation)
• If you have children: extracts of the birth certificate of your children with filiation
• Proof of address dated less than three months
• Three photos
• Employment contract concluded with the company established in France
• Supporting documents establishing you have been with the company for at least three years (payslips for example)
• Proof of the links between the company established in France and that established abroad
• Proof of resources greater than or equal to €33,251.40
• Documents completed by your employer

Your local consulate or prefecture will advise if any other documents are required to support your application. You will also need to pay €225 (this is made up of stamp duty of €25 + tax of €200) in French revenue stamps – and provide proof of payment when collecting your residence card.

Can I Bring my Immediate Family Members to France if I have a Salarié en Mission Passport Talent Permit?

Yes, under the French immigration rules, under the “accompanying family” procedure, you will be able to bring your married partner and children under the age of 18. They will need to apply for a long-stay visa from the French consulate in their country of residence and then acquire a residence permit at the prefecture of their place of residence once they have arrived in France. Depending on the age of your children, they may not need to apply for a residence permit.

Final Words

With the Salarié en Mission Passport Talent permit, the French government has facilitated the mobility of staff working for multinational firms. The process of applying is simple and had little in the way of complex eligibility requirements which need to be met.